Mental Illness (Ethnic Monitoring)

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he has any information on the relative proportion of people receiving treatment for mental illness by ethnic group; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if he has any information with respect to the numbers of people committed under different sections of the Mental Health Acts by ethnic group; and if he will make a statement;

(3) what steps were taken as a result of the MIND report, a copy of which has been sent to him, about the disproportionate number of Afro-Caribbeans held in mental institutions, to investigate the causes and to alter the provisions of facilities; and if he will make a statement.

The MIND report, "A Place of Safety", dealt primarily with the use of police powers under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983. This part of the Act is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. We are aware that there is a concern that ethnic minorities may be over-represented among patients detained under the powers of the Mental Health Act.

Mental health statistics are not currently collected centrally by ethnicity. There are no immediate plans to introduce the national monitoring of the ethnic origins of National Health Service patients, although the subject is under constant review by the Department.

It is essential that psychiatric patients receive care and treatment in a way appropriate to their illness, and that such care should be offered in a way acceptable to them, independently of racial origins.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what research he has carried out with respect to the needs of patients from different ethnic minorities with respect to provision of mental health facilities; and if he will make a statement.

The Department is currently funding a project concerned with mental and other health needs of ethnic minorities in an inner-city context, undertaken by a small voluntary organisation, NAFSIYAT, which runs an inter-cultural therapy centre in north London. A final report on this project is expected next year.

To ask the Secretary of State For Social Services what steps he takes to ensure that mental health provision and treatment for mental illness is made available for members of ethnic minority groups; and if he will make a statement.

It is for health and social services authorities to identify and take account of the needs of all sections of the community in planning and funding local mental health services. The importance of this work was emphasised at a seminar on ethnic minority health last November for health authority chairmen and managers. Ministers also drew attention to the difficulties which needed to be overcome when mentally ill patients and those treating them had different cultural backgrounds. In addition, where appropriate, Ministers are raising questions on improving health services for ethnic minorities through the review system.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he has taken to ensure that the training of those involved with the treatment of patients suffering from mental illness recognises the particular problems of patients from ethnic minorities.

This is a matter for the bodies responsible for the education and training of professional staff. I understand, however, that the particular needs of members of ethnic minorities are covered in the training syllabuses of the nursing and social work professions, and the Royal College of Psychiatrists has established a special committee to consider any special training needs arising from mental illness among people from the ethnic minorities.